Under-18s downed by Tigers despite Day strike

A Jonny Day first-half strike against Hull City proved not enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat on home turf for the under-18s.

The Tigers struck first at Canford Park Arena through Lucas Dawson before Day levelled shortly after.

Dominance was traded between the two sides over the remainder of the game with both having opportunities to win the clash.

Ultimately, it was Ronnie Kelly’s finish shortly following the restart which ensured the three points left with City.

HOW IT HAPPENED

A competitive opening 20 minutes at Canford teed up what would be a closely fought encounter.

The end of that opening period saw the Tigers take the lead, with Kelly found in the Cherries box and finishing beyond Noah Crisp.

Sparked into life by the opener, James Lowy’s side immediately went in search of an equaliser and were rewarded on the half-hour mark.

Under-16 Day was slipped in on goal and powered a left-footed shot across George Wilson to find the back of the net.

Having gone in all square at the break, the Cherries’ work was undone inside five minutes of the restart.

Collecting possession around the Bournemouth six-yard box, Kelly restored Hull’s lead with a powerful finish.

While the goal proved to be the winner, the Cherries were a whisker away from restoring parity several times before the full-time whistle blew.

A dominant two-minute spell saw both Day and substitute Kashanga Kasukumya hit the woodwork, the former clipping an expert flick off the post and the latter crashing a lasered shot off the underside of the crossbar.

Reaching last-chance saloon, the Cherries twice tested Wilson in second-half injury time but the goalkeeper came out on top.

The second of the two saw some neat play from Ryan Carroll down the right flank before his cross for Ethan Sills was directed goalwards, only for Wilson to somehow tip the effort over the crossbar and ensure Hull claimed all three points.

THE LINE-UP

AFC Bournemouth: Crisp, Whitehead, Parkes, Gregory, William, Eagle (Redknapp, 77), Carroll, Salmon, Day, Stevens (Sills, 50), Osborne (Kasukumya, 46).

Unused subs: Seeley, Merritt.

WHAT IT MEANS

Defeat to Hull means the Cherries have won two and lost three of their opening five U18 Professional Development League fixtures.

Staying on six points, Lowy’s side remains in mid-table in the league.

WHO’S NEXT

The under-18s are back in action at Canford Park Arena next Saturday with a friendly.

Volta Sports are welcomed to the academy’s headquarters on 23^rd September for an 11am kick-off.